Tribal Nations Name Yellowstone White Bison Calf, Share Spiritual Meaning

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. — A number of Native American tribal nations gathered in West Yellowstone, Montana, on Wednesday, June 26, to honor and name the white bison calf born in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley on June 4.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Lakota leader and 19th generation keeper of the sacred white buffalo pipe and bundle, presided over the ceremonial event and named the white buffalo Wakan Gli, which translates to “Sacred Return” or “Holy Come.”

The event received national media coverage with the Tribal Council, tribal representatives and more than 500 people coming to honor the sacred calf and the customs of the Buffalo People. Tribal leaders sang songs and danced during the ceremony, which was held at the Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) headquarters on Shoshone-Bannock territory. During the ceremony, an altar was created with three buffalo hides and three buffalo skulls. A fourth buffalo skull was hung from the peace pole representing the World Day of Peace and Prayer, which is observed on June 21 each year.

Wild white bison are considered extremely rare, and none had been observed in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) prior to the June 4 birth, according to YNP. Tribal nations consider the white calf sacred to indigenous tribes throughout the United States.

J. Dallas Gudgell, a member of the Yankton and Fort Peck Lakota, Assiboine and Sioux tribes, said Loop rail During the ceremony, a half-dozen tribes spoke about what the buffalo means to their people. Gudgell said many audience members were filled with emotion and noted the significance of the white calf appearing at this time in history.

According to Lakota prophecy, a white buffalo is a sign of better times to come, as well as a warning that people must do more to protect the land and its animals. Gudgell explained to Loop rail Lakota philosophy is based on the story of the White Buffalo Woman who came to the people in difficult times to teach them the importance of getting along with each other and the natural world. According to the story, she left saying that she would return as a four-legged white buffalo in difficult times of polarization and violence.

“She stood up and showed herself to us,” Gudgell said. “This blessing and this warning means that we have an opportunity as two-legged people to change our ways and to establish a right relationship with our natural environment and all our relationships, all creatures. We have been thrown out of balance and there has been a lot of disrespect. The Western mind is transactional and focused on the bottom line instead of being relationship-oriented. The bottom line will continue to lead us down a path of destruction. We were all Indigenous at one time. We still have the opportunity to make better choices.”

Gudgell says the prophecy tells humans to pause and recognize that this moment in time is a turning point.

“As Chief Arvol says, Mother Earth is sick and has a fever,” Gudgell said. “The climate crisis is real. Fires, floods and hatred are one of the ways Mother Earth is telling us we are on the wrong path. We are so out of balance because as children of Mother Earth, we have turned against her, leading us into confusion and conflict. The birth of the white calf tells us that the time has come or we will continue to walk the path of destruction. This is an opportunity to regain balance with all things. This is a time of spiritual awakening.”